Sponge



Patented Mar. 3, 1925.

Urrea srrss ATEN EMMA.` op. Pease, or NANrUoKnr, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPONGE.

Application filed March v29, 1923. Serial No. 628,558.

To allV whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EMMA C. inasn, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Nantucket, in the county of Nantucket and Commonwealth of li/lassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sponges, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable others versed in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to Sponges of the types used for bathing or other purposes, and is applicable either to the natural or manufactured variety.

My invention has for its objects to pro-l vide a means insuring uniform wear throughout the exterior surface vof the sponge; to render a sponge more sanitary through increased area of evaporation; to make the handling andv use -of the sponge more convenient; to provide interior means of rmly holding the sponge when in use; to utilize for sponge manipulation the varying, and bodily adaptable, finger and hand motions; to furnish aV substantialfoundation upon which the sponge may-function minimizing the possibility of rupture; to

eliminate much of the exterior wear to.

which sponges have heretoforebeen subject and to provide a quick drying sponge from which the moisture holding zone or core is sponge is-usually such that, even when satueliminated.

lf accomplish the objects of my invention as shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification and in which Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view (on line -a: in Figure 2) of a sponge substance of convenient size within which is formed a cavity, shaped on either side to conform to the thumb, index and center fingers of the human hand. Figure 2 shows the open end view of the sponge shown in Figure l. Figure 3 shows the glove like member with which the cavity, shown in Figure l, is lined and strengthened. Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring Vagain to Figure l, A indicates the sponge substance or body portion of the improved device from which the cent-ral moisture holding Zone or core is removed to provide the cavity B. To remove the core from the sponge any suitable tool or machinery may be employed. For instance, in forming the cavity in a natural sponge, it is proposed in the present instance to use a sharp ring-shaped tool mounted on a handle and having a narrow cutter on each side, the openings between the cutters allowing the pieces of core, after being cut, to fall out. The cutting tool'is first manipulated to cut intov the sponge at one end to roughly form the. cavity andV then subsequently maneuvered to develop ther thumb and Finger cavities indicated respectively at C, D and E. The arrangement is such that the completed cavity practically occupies the center of the sponge and sin ce the sponge is porous it is apparent that the cavity is open to the atmosphere through the pores ,of the sponge. The water or moisture collected by a sponge is retained longest by the central portion or core of the sponge since the latter is less exposed to the atmosphere than the surface portion of the sponge and, hence, the moisture evaporates far more slowly. However, by coring out the sponge in the manner just described, the central moisture holding zone or core is removed and an increase obtained in the total areavof evaporation, since evaporation will take place at the inner surface of the sponge, asrepresented by the wall of the cavity, as well as at the outer surface of the sponge. The modifying of the natural structure of the sponge in this manner thus provides for a quicker drying of the sponge after use. The natural resiliency of the rated, it will not collapse to such an extent as to practically obliterate the presence of the cavity. In addition to providing for a quicker dryingL of' the sponge the cavity is also made use of as a means for enabling the sponge to be fastened or attached to the hand by a grip or clutch from the inside of the sponge. This is accomplished by shaping the cavity to conform to the outline of the hand, as previously mentioned. Thus, external gripping of the sponge is done away with and the life of the sponge prolonged by the consequent reduction in wear on its outer surface. It will be understood, also, that the particular .shape of the cavity described enables the improved sponge to be used on either the right or the left hand and by turning the sponge on either hand allV parts of its exterior are readily used, thus insuring a uniform wear. The ingerfitting cavities insure a firm hold, eliminating the possibility of the sponge slipping and making use of the same most convenient.

and to furnish a substantial foundation upon which the sponge may function, the cavity of the sponge is lined and strengthened by a glove-like member B', shown in Figure 3. rIhis member is preferably made from a thin, rubberized Vnet of any suitable open-weave meshed fabric and is inserted in and attached to the cavity of the sponge in the following manner: The rubberized net is placed on a wax polished wooden hand, shaped to conform to the cavity in the sponge, then dipped into a solution of cement and inserted into the cavity, in which position it is allowed to dry, after which the waxed form is withdrawn leaving the Vglove member in position and cemented to the sponge substance. lWith certain sponge substances of substantial strength the glove-like foundation is not desirable and may be eliminated.

The advantages and adaptability of the human fingers and hand to the body are through the use of this invention adapted to sponge manipulation. Heretofore, in the use of a sponge of this type it has been merely moved over the body of the user by a simple rubbing action, the thickness and consistency of the spongeous mass interposed between the hand land the body of the user rendering thel mass incapable of transmitting to the body any massaging or kneading movementvof the fingers, due to the fact that when the ordinary sponge is gripped externally the central portion of the spongeous mass serves to absorb Jthe massaging movement of the fingers without corresponding application of such movement to the body. This objection is done away with in the provision of a sponge modified according to the present'invention since the formation and lining of the cavity serres to reduce the thickness of, and to reinforce, the layer of spongeous material interposed between the body and the lingers of the user, with the result that the interposed layer is caused to follow with a fair degree of faithfulness all massaging movement of the fingers.

The improved sponge may be made in various sizes and either small at the wrist for use where a tight fit is wanted or loose where easy removal is desirable.

I do not desire to confine myself to the specific construction herein set forth as future practice of the art may require varying forms and Vchanges all well within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States' of America l. A bath mit consisting of a body of spongeous material cored out to form a cavity shaped to receive the hand of the user and having an opening at one end of the body for the insertion of the hand, and an,

open-,weave meshed fabric lining secured within the cavity and serving to prevent disintegration of the body, said cavity serving to increase the area of evaporation.

2. A bath mit consisting of a body of spongeous material cored out to form a cavity shaped toreceive the hand ofthe user and having an opening at one end of the body for the insertion of the hand, and a glovelike lining of open-weave meshed fabric secured within the cavity and serving to pre'- vent disintegration of the body, said cavity serving to increase the area of evaporation.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses'.

EMMA C. EASE. Titnesses LaUuisToN BUNKER, EMMA COOK. 

